A man has died and eight people are in hospital after a van ploughed into Muslim worshippers as they left a mosque in London.

The attacker, described by witnesses as a large white man, struck outside the Muslim Welfare House, close to Finsbury Park mosque, in north London at 12.20am today as the area was busy with worshippers who had been attending Ramadan night prayers.

Read More

Police have arrested a 48-year-old man at the scene and an investigation has been launched by counter-terror police.

One witness described being surrounded by bodies in the wake of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, yards from the mosque.

A van in Finsbury Park, north London, which ploughed into worshippers (Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

Another witness, who wanted to be identified as Abdulrahman, which is not his real name, told the Press Association: “I managed to get the driver of the van.

“He wanted to run away and was saying, ‘I want to kill Muslims’.

“So he came back to the main road and I managed to get him to the ground and me and some other guys managed to hold him until the police arrived, for about 20 minutes I think, until the police arrived.”

Read More

Abdulrahman claimed the driver said, ‘kill me,’ as he was held on the ground.

Eight people were taken to hospital and two more were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

A forensic tent stands next to a van in Finsbury Park, north London, where one man has died, eight people taken to hospital and a person arrested after the vehicle struck pedestrians (Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “The driver of the van - a man aged 48 - was found detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested by police in connection with the incident.

“He has been taken to hospital as a precaution and will be taken into custody once discharged.

“He will also be subject of a mental health assessment in due course.”

Read More

Some witnesses at the scene said more than one attacker may have been involved.

But the Met said: “At this early stage of this investigation, no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police, however the investigation continues.”

The force also dismissed reports that the van driver produced a knife.

“At this stage there are no reports of any persons having suffered any knife injuries.”

Muslim Council of Britain secretary general Harun Khan condemned the attack and also urged calm.

A police officer talks to local people at Finsbury Park in north London, where one man has died, eight people taken to hospital and a person arrested after a van struck pedestrians (Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

He said: “During the night, ordinary British citizens were set upon while they were going about their lives, completing their night worship.

“My prayers are with the victims and their families. It appears from eyewitness accounts that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamophobia.

“Over the past weeks and months, Muslims have endured many incidents of Islamophobia, and this is the most violent manifestation to date.

“Given we are approaching the end of the month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid with many Muslims going to local mosques, we expect the authorities to increase security outside mosques as a matter of urgency.”